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Religious Instruction for Children and Adolescents in the Early English Reformation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2011

Philippa Tudor
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Extract

In an article published in Past and Present some years ago, Professor Strauss drew attention to an area of activity that early sixteenth-century reformers considered to be of vital importance - evangelical effort amongst the young. The overwhelming impression left by this article and by a subsequent full-scale study of the indoctrination of the young in the German Reformation is that – in Professor Strauss's terms – failure, not success, was the dominant note.

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Articles
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The Journal of Ecclesiastical History , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , July 1984 , pp. 391 - 413
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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References

1 Strauss, G., ‘Success and failure in the German Reformation’, Past and Present, lxvii (1975), 30–63CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Strauss, G., Luther's House of Learning, Baltimore and London 1978Google Scholar. I should like to thank Mrs S. J. Loach and Dr B. I. Bradshaw for reading and commenting on earlier versions of this article.

2 Pantzer, K. F., Jackson, W. A. and Ferguson, F. S. (eds.), A Short-Title Catalogue of Books printed in England, Scotland, and Ireland and of English Books Printed Abroad 1475–1640; second edition revised and enlarged, London 1976Google Scholar, ii (hereafter cited as RSTC), 21052–5, Nicholas Ridley, A pituous lamentation of the miserable estate of the church of Christ…, 1566, A2-A3v For an example of Marian preaching against the Protestant catechism, see Maclure, M., The Paul's Cross Sermons 1534–1642, Toronto 1958, 196.Google Scholar

3 I hope to consider the question of religious education in the period 1553–8 in a separate paper.

4 Pollard, A. W. and Redgrave, G. R. (eds.), A Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of English Books Printed Abroad, 1475–1640, London 1926 (hereafter cited as STC), 10383Google Scholar, A dialogue or familiar talke cŌcernyng the ceremonies suppressed in Englande, 1554, C2v-C3; cf. Hallpike, C. R., The Foundations of Primitive Thought, Oxford 1979, 35. 420–3Google Scholar

5 E.g. STC, 10504, Desiderius Erasmus, A playne and godly exposition of the comune crede and of the x comaundementes, 1533, B1v; STC 1710, Thomas Becon, The worckes of T. Becon, whiche he hath hylherto made and published, 1564, i. fos. cclxxxx-cclxxxxv

6 The frequency of vernacular preaching in the later Middle Ages remains a matter of debate; see Robertson, D. W., ‘Frequency of preaching in thirteenth century England’, in idem, Essays in Medieval Culture, Princeton 1980, 114–28. esp. 114.Google Scholar

7 The Lay Folks' Catechism, eds. T. F. Simmons and H. E. Nolloth (Early English Text Society original ser., cxviii, 1901), xxxiv-xxxv.

8 Langemack, G., Histor: Catecheticae, oder Gesammleter Mackrichten zu einer Catechetischen Historic, Stralsund 1729, i. 401–2.Google Scholar

9 Cited in Moran, J. H., Education and Learning in the City of York 1300–1560 (Borthwick papers, lv, 1979), 22Google Scholar;Deanesly, M., The Lollard Bible, Cambridge 1920, 189–93Google Scholar; for late medieval instruction see also Russell, G. H., ‘Vernacular instruction of the laity in the later Middle Ages in England: some texts and notes’, Journal of Religious History, ii (1962), 98–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

10 The Lives ofjehan Vitrier…and John Colet…by Erasmus of Rotterdam, ed. Lupton, J. H., London 1883, 28.Google Scholar

11 RSTC, 18787, Joannes Oecolampadius, A sarmon…toyong men, and maydens, tr. J. Foxe, 1548, B4-B4v.

12 RSTC, 16571, Forma ac ratio lota ccdesiastici ministerii, in peregrinorum, potissimum vero Germanorum ecclesia: instituta Londini, per pientissimum regem Eduardum sextū: 1550. Autore J. a Lasco, Frankfurt and Emden 1554?, 86; RSTC, 16574, Toute la forme [et] manière du ministère ecclésiastique, en l'église des estrāgers, dressée à Londres. Par J. a Lasco. Tr. de Latin, Emden 1556, 50–50v.

13 On this see Strauss, Luther's House of Learning, 209–12.

14 STC, 5993, Thomas Cranmer, Cathcchismus, 1548, M3v

15 The worckes of T. Becon, fo. cclxxxviiv

16 Visitation Articles and Injunctions of the Period of the Reformation, ed. Frere, W. H. (Alcuin Club Collections, xvi, 1910), iii. 220, 276, 299, 305–6 and 258–9, 286–7, 371.Google Scholar

17 STC, 3036, The summe of the holye scripture and ordynarye of Christen teachyng, tr. S. Fish, Antwerp 1529, B2v-B7 see also B8.

18 It was prohibited by royal proclamation in 1529 and 1530, and later judged as heretical in 1546; see Tudor Royal Proclamations, eds. Hughes, P. L. and Larkin, J. F., New Haven and London 1964, i. 185, 194Google Scholar and The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe, eds. Townsend, G. and Cattley, S. R., London 1838, v. 567.Google Scholar

19 RSTC, 26138, Ulrich Zwingli, The rekening and declaraciŌ of the faith of H. Zwingly, tr. G. Joye, Antwerp 1543, B1v-B3; RSTC, 24217, George Joye, Afrutefull treatis of baptymc and the Lordis souper, Antwerp 1541, A8v

20 Holloway, H., The Confirmation and Communion of Infants and Young Children, London 1901, 43.Google Scholar

21 Caxton printed three editions of this work; see Quattuor Sermones printed by William Caxton, ed. Blake, N. F. (Middle English Texts, ii, Heidelberg 1975), 7.Google Scholar

22 Op. cit., 38.

23 The First and Second Prayer-Books of King Edward the Sixth, London 1920, 247Google Scholar. For the background to the phrase ‘yeres of discrecion’ see Fisher, J. D. C., Christian Initiation: the Reformation period (Alcuin Club, li, 1970), 238–9Google Scholar; it is important to note that the reference to the Paraphrases of Erasmus on p. 239 n. 4 relates to the controversial suggestion of Erasmus that baptismal vows should be publicly renewed at puberty; this suggestion was omitted from the official English translation of the Paraphrases, presumably because of the prevalent fear of Anabaptism. In the autumn of 1547 the Privy Council was certainly well aware of the controversial nature of this passage; see Hume, M. A. S. and Tyler, R. (eds.), Calendar of Letters, Despatches, and Slate Papers, relating to the Negotiations between England and Spain…, London 1912, ix. 187–8Google Scholar. For a Henrician recommendation of the public renewal of baptismal vows, following the Erasmian model, see Public Record Office, State Papers Theological Tracts, MS SP 6/2/20.

24 The teaching ‘that children ought not to be Confirmed by the Bishop till they come to years of discretion’ was condemned as an ‘erroneous opinion’ in the Lower House of Convocation in 1536 (Holloway, Confirmation and Communion, 44). The ‘Bishops’ Book’ of 1537 claimed that the practice of infant confirmation was ‘well done’ whilst the ‘King's Book’ maintained that ‘men ought not to contemn this sacrament’, without explicitly recommending infant confirmation; see Fisher, Christian Initiation, 208–29, CSP. 222 229 See also Thomas, K., ‘Age and authority in early modern England’, Proceedings of the British Academy, lxii (1976), 224–5.Google Scholar

25 Information about the very early instruction of individual children is extremely rare. Between 1549 and 1551 John and Anne Hooper kept Hcinrich Bullingcr, godfather to their daughter Rachel, informed of her achievements. According to John Hooper, Rachel, who was teething during the spring of 1549, could understand English, German, French and Latin ‘very tolerably’ by February 1550. In April 1551 Anne Hooper reported thai her precocious daughter had ‘learned by heart within these three months the form of giving thanks, the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, the apostles’ creed, together with the first and second psalms of David. And now, as she knows almost all her letters, she is instructed in the catechism’, Original Letters relative to the English Reformation, ed. Robinson, H. (Parker Society, Cambridge 1846), i. 50, 75, 107Google Scholar. If Rachel Hooper really had achieved as much as her fond parents claimed, then she must have been more advanced during the early stages of childhood than the young Edward vi, whose basic alphabet book, which included the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, was compiled when he was about five, Baldwin, T. W., William Shakspere's Small Latine and Lesse Greke, Urbana 1944, i. 202Google Scholar. The young servant boy who was instructed in the basic principles of Faith by George Joye was probably older still; see Thomas More. The Apology, ed. Trapp, J. B. (The Yale Edition of the Complete Works of St Thomas More, ix, New Haven and London 1979), xxxi-xxxii, lxxviii, 117–18, 353, 366.Google Scholar

26 RSTC, 25422–3, Richard Whitford, A werke for housholders…, 1531?, B2.

27 STC, 5199, Thordynary of crysten men, 1506, EI-EIv

28 RSTC, 21431, Guy de Roye, The doctrinal ofsapyence, tr. W. Caxton, Westminster 1489,

29 Forma ac ratio, 91–106.

30 Carlisle, N., A Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales, London 1818, ii. 75–7Google Scholar; a critical edition of Colet's Cathechyzon is printed in Lupton, J. H., A Life of John Colet, London 1909, 285–90.Google Scholar

31 Leach, A. F. (ed.), Educational Charters and Documents 598 to 1909, Cambridge 1911Google Scholar,

32 N. Carlisle, op. cit., 215. In a manual written by an Oxford teacher which contains, among other things, the text of the Prayer Book catechism in both English and French, a pupil says during a dialogue that he is aged eight and a half; see STC, 7363, Pierre du Ploiche, A treatise in Englishe and Frenche (of the catechisme; of the letanie, etc.), 1553, E4.

33 Cross, C., Church and People 1450–1660, Hassocks 1976, 38–41.Google Scholar

34 Acts and Monuments of John Foxe, v. 18–26; N. Orme, Education in the West of England 1066–1548, Exeter 1976, 100.

35 STC, 3359, In this boke is cŌteyned the Articles of oure fayth, 1520?, A Iv

36 RSTC, 17957, John Mirk, Liber festivalis, Westminster 1483, CI-CIv

37 Whitford, Werke for houskolders, D4-D4v

38 Op. cit., D4v

39 Op. cit., CI, BIv-B2.

40 Op. cit., CI.

41 Whitford was here following a tradition of writers in mentioning the way in which children, bound by religious duty to obey their parents, should face this problem. See, for example, Owst, G. R., Literature and Pulpit in Medieval England, Cambridge 1933, 463–4.Google Scholar

42 Whitford, Werkefor housholders, F4v-G4.

43 For example, STC, 12799, William Harrington, The cŌmendacions of matrymony, 1528, D4v (the duty of parents), EIv (the duty of clergy), and EIv-E2 (that of godparents to teach children the principles of Faith).

44 STC, 13021, Christopher Hegendorff, Domestycalorhousholde sermons, tr. H. Reiginalde, part i, Ipswich 1548 and STC, 13022, part ii, Worcester 1549.

45 E.g., RSTC, 16936. Thomas Lupset, An exhortation toyonge men, 1535; Oecolampadius, A sarmon… to yong men, and maydens; RSTC, 15525, [A] good lesson for yonge men, London c. 1540, a fragment of some verses by a Catholic writer.

46 Cf., Tambiah, S. J., ‘Literacy in a Buddhist village in north-east Thailand’, in Goody, J. (ed.), Literacy in Traditional Societies, Cambridge 1975, 101–2.Google Scholar

47 Whitford, Werkefor housholders, C I; the Protestant complaints about lay ignorance of the Lord's Prayer in English are so numerous that it is difficult to select an example. See Sermons by Hugh Latimer sometime Bishop of Worcester, Everyman London n.d., 268–9.

48 This phrase is Professor Elton's: see Elton, G. R., Reform and Reformation, London 1977, 257–8Google Scholar. The bishop of Worcester reprimanded the clergy for the fact that pressure for intensified instruction of the laity had come from a lay, not a clerical, impulse. He claimed that the clergy were ‘…by violence enforced to let books to be made…by profane and lay persons… be sold abroad, and read for the instruction of the people’, ‘Sermon preached before the Convocation of the Clergy’, in Sermons by Latimer, 42.

49 Documents Illustrative of English Church History, eds. Gee, H. and Hardy, V. V. J., London 1896, 271–3Google Scholar; Elton, op. cit., 258.

50 Augustine Bernher's transcriptions of Latimer's series of sermons on the Lord's Prayer are printed in Sermons by Latimer, 270–379.

51 Visitation Articles and Injunctions of the Period of the Reformation, eds. Frere, W. H. and Kennedy, W. M. (Alcuin Club Collections, xv, 1910), ii. 17.Google Scholar

52 Op. cit., 20–1.

53 Haigh, C., Reformation and Resistance in Tudor Lancashire, Cambridge 1975, 311–12Google Scholar; see also idem, ‘Puritan evangelism in the reign of Elizabeth 1’, EHR, xcii (1977), 30–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

54 For example, the second part ofRSTC, 20200–3, Prayers of the Byble takē out of the olde testament and the newe, as olde holy fathers bothe men and women were wont to pray in tyme of tribulation deuyded in -vi- paries, 1535?

55 See RSTC, 16820, The pater noster- ye crede & the cŌmaundementes in englysh, 1537, and subsequent editions.

56 RSTC, 16820, The pater noster…, KI-K4; Elton, G. R., Policy and Police: the enforcement of the Reformation in the age of Thomas Cromwell, Cambridge 1972, 233–5Google Scholar; Bowker, M., The Henrician Reformation: the diocese of Lincoln under John Longland 1521–1547, Cambridge 1981, 142–3Google Scholar, the text from Longland's register is printed on p. 157.

57 Documents Illustrative…, 276–7; Visitation Articles and Injunctions, ii. 45–9, 53–7, 66, 86.

58 Op. cit., 61–3. In 1602 Carew claimed that the Lord's Prayer, Apostles’ Creed and the Ten Commandments had been used in Cornish for longer than anyone could remember, see Coate, M., Cornwall in the Great Civil War and Interregnum, Oxford 1933, 1 –2.Google Scholar

59 Butterworth, C. C., ’ Early primers for the use of children’, Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, xliii (1949), 377Google Scholar; RSTC, 16011, The primer in Englishe moste necessary for the educacyon of chyldren abstracted oute of the Manual! of prayers…set forth by Jho, laet by shop of Rochester, 1539?

60 RSTC, 16034, The primer, selfoorth by the kynges maiestie…to be taught lerned, & read: and none other to be used throughout all his dominions, London 1545, L2v.

61 STC, 20, The ABC set forth by the Kynges majestic, 1545? A6-A7y; compare this text with that included on University Microfilms International reel 1675, The abc with the Pater noster, Ave, Credo, and x comaundements in Englysshe newly translated, c. 1545.

62 Tudor Royal Proclamations, i. 349–50.

63 Op. cit., 353.

64 Op. cit., 394.

65 The recitation of the Ten Commandments during the communion service was introduced in the second Edwardian Prayer Book of 1552, see First and Second Prayer-Books, 377–9

66 Op. cit., 251. The rubric in the second Prayer Book runs ‘… prentises (whiche haue not learned theyr Catechisme)’ presumably to allow for the instruction of those uneducated apprentices who were already confirmed, op. cit., 409.

67 Op. cit., 251.

68 Visitation Articles and Injunctions, ii. 194, 239, 265.

69 Op. cit., 274–5, 306.

70 First and second Prayer-Books, 409.

71 This was published in both English and Latin (STC, 4807–12); for the text, see The Two Liturgies…with other Documents set forth by authority in the reign of King Edward VI, ed. Ketley, J. (Parker Soc, Cambridge 1844), 485–582.Google Scholar

72 RSTC, 16573, L'ordre des priers et ministires ecclisiastiques de Peglise de Londres, et la confession defoy de Mglise de Glastonbury en Somerset, by J. a Lasco, ed. V. Poullain, 1552, 10v 39

73 Forma ac ratio, 91–106.

74 R. E. G. Kirk and E. F. Kirk (eds.),’ Returns of aliens dwelling in the city and suburbs of London’, Publications of the Huguenot Society of London, x (1900), 210Google Scholar. I am grateful to Andrew Pettegree for discussions about the stranger churches in London.

75 Forma ac ratio, 104–6.

76 Op. cit., 99.

77 De Molen, R. L., ‘Pueri Christi Imitatio: the festival of the boy-bishop in Tudor England’, Moreana, xlv (1975), 17–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

78 For a sociological insight of the festival see Ariès, P., Centuries of Childhood Harmondsworth 1979, 73–4.Google Scholar

79 Bennett, H. S., ‘Notes on English retail book-prices, 1480–1560’, The Library, 5th ser., V (1951). 175.Google Scholar

80 STC, 283, Bp. John Alcock, In die innocencium sermo pro episcopo puerorum, W. de Worde, n.d., esp. A4-A4v. Horden, J. (ed.), Halkett and Laing. A dictionary of anonymous and pseudonymous publications in the English Language 1475–1640, Harlow and London 1980, 117.Google Scholar p. 104 notes that no evidence to support the ascription of this sermon to Alcock has been traced.

81 The legends of Christ's life were reflected in other legends of later origin. The young Christ's anti-semitism and antipathy towards his schoolmaster as related in the Infantia Salvatoris, for example, are paralleled by that of the young Robert the Devil before his conversion; see RSTC, 21070, The lyf of the moste myscheuoust Robert the deuyll whiche was afterwarde called ye seruaunt of god, 1500?, C7v A6.

82 W. Caxtons Infantia Salvatoris, ed. Holthausen, F., Halle 1891, 18–19, 16.Google Scholar

83 The Lives of J than Vitrier…and John Colel, 27–8.

84 Desiderius Erasmus, A ryght excellent sermon and full offrute and edificacyon of the chylde Iesus, 1536?, B4-B4v (STC, 10509). For the date of this edition see Devereux, E. J., A Checklist of English Translations of Erasmus to 1700 (Oxford Bibliographical Society occasional publications, III, 1968), C27, p. 10.Google Scholar

85 De Molen, ‘Pueri Christi Imitatio’, 25.

86 STC, 1290, John Bale, A dialoge or communycacyon to be had between two chyldren, 1549, AI

87 Simon, J., Education and Society in Tudor England, Cambridge 1966, 240–1Google Scholar; Watson, F., The English Grammar Schools to 1660: their curriculum and practice, reprint London 1968, 79.Google Scholar

88 Kirby, T. F., Annals of Winchester College, London and Winchester 1892, 263Google Scholar; a loan of £20 was requested from Thomas Cromwell to help with the publication costs of the first edition of this catechism, see Devereux, E. J., ‘The English editions of Erasmus's Catechismus’, The Library, 5th ser., xvii (1962), 154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

89 The name of Martin Luther is conspicuously absent from the roll-call which follows. Luther's catechetical writings did, however, have a certain amount of influence in England during the early Reformation; see C. C. Butterworth, The English Primers (1520–1545), Philadelphia 1953, 33–4, Appendix I (A), ‘Martin Luther and the Marshall Primers’, 279–85; idem, ‘Robert Redman's Prayers of the Byble’, The Library, 5th ser., iii (1949), 281Google Scholar; Sheppard, L. A., ‘The Hortulus Animae in English, 1530’, The Library, 5th ser., vi (1951), 110.Google Scholar

90 In addition to references already given, see RSTC, 24223–5, The true beliefs in Christ and his sacramentes, set forth in a Dialoge betwene a christen father and his sonne (tr. from W. Capito's De pueris instituendis by W. Roye), reissued 1550; RSTC, 20843, Urbanus Regius, A declararation [sic] of the twelue articles of the christen faythe…, tr. G. Lynne, 1548.

91 RSTC, 26136, Ulrich Zwingli, Certeyne preceples,… declaring how the ingenious youth ought to be instructed and brought into Christ, tr. R. Argentyne, Ipswich 1548; RSTC, 24784, Pierre Viret, A verie familiare & fruiteful exposition of the xii articles in the Apostles crede, made in dialoges 1548?; RSTC, 16560, The forme of common praiers vsed in the churches of Geneua:made by J. Caluyne. In the ende are prayers translated by W. Huycke, 1550; STC, 4391, Jean Calvin, Le Calcchisme de Geneue, London? 1552.

92 STC, 359, Edmond Allen, A catechisme that is to saie, a familiar introduction and trainyng of the simple in the commaundementes of God, 1548; STC, 361, Edmond Allen, A shorte catechisme. A briefe and godly bringinge up of youth, Zürich? 1550; STC, 1752, Thomas Becon, The principles of the Christian religion, 1552?; STC, 13746, John Hooper, A declaration of the ten holy cŌmaundemenles, Zürich 1548.

93 The identification of Taverner's original source as An Instruction in Faith, written by Calvin in 1537, is made in Knox, D. B., The Doctrine of Faith in the reign of Henry VIII, London 1961, 182–4.Google Scholar

94 A. Hume, ‘William Roye's “Briefe Dialoge" (1527), an English version of a Strassburg catechism’, Harvard Theological Review, lx (1967), 307.Google Scholar

95 R. Steele, ‘Notes on English books printed abroad, 1525–1548’, Transactions of the Bibliographical Society, xi (1911), 195–6.Google Scholar

96 Bailey, D. S., Thomas Becon, Edinburgh and London 1952, 22.Google Scholar

97 Maclure, Paul's Cross Sermons, 190.

98 Mozley, J. F., Coverdale and his Bibles, London 1953, 328, 286–7.Google Scholar

99 Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Add. C. 94, Wardrobe lists of John Dudley, Viscount Lisle, fos. 13–14.

100 RSTC, 15986, A prymer in Englyshe, with certeyn prayers & godly meditations, very necessary for all people that vnderslonde not the Latyne tongue, ed. W. Marshall, 1534, cf. B3–C4 with R Iff, ‘A Dialoge wherin the Chylde asked certeyn Questions, answereth to the same’

101 STC, 5993, Cathechismus; Cranmer's preface seems to indicate that he intended this catechism to be used as the standard catechism throughout England: see AIv-A2, where Cranmer shows himself aware of the dangers of‘diuersitie’.

102 First and Second Prayer-Books, 248–9.

103 Selwyn, D. G., ‘A neglected edition of Cranmer's Catechism’, Journal of Theological Studies, N.s., xv (1964), 76–91CrossRefGoogle Scholar; an attack on a recently published catechism which occurs in a satirical anti-Catholic interlude of Edward vi's reign may demonstrate a contemporary awareness of the eucharistic theology of the unrevised Cathechismus; see John Bon and mast Parson, printed in Tudor Tracts, ed. Pollard, A. F., Westminster 1903, 168Google Scholar, where the character of Parson comments:'… But now the blessed Mess is hated in every border, / And railed on, and reviled, with words most blasphemous: / But I trust it will be better with the help of Catechismus. / For though it came forth but even that other day, / Yet hath it turned many to their old way: / And where they hated Messe, and had it in disdain, / There have they Messe and Matins in Latin tongue again. / Yea, even in London self, JOHN, I tell the truth!…’

104 RSTC, 23709, Richard Taverner, A catechisme or institution of the Christen religion. Newely setforthe, 1539, B4v-B5.

105 RSTC, 16573, Confession defoy, 30.

106 RSTC, 15260, John a Lasco, De catechismus, oft kinder leere, diemen le Louden, is ghebruyckende, tr. J. Utenhove, 1551, E6v-E7.

107 The accusation of denial of the physical descent of Christ into hell featured in several heresy prosecutions. Such denials suggest either a very familiar knowledge of the New Testament or the influence of teaching such as that of Erasmus on this subject. For an Edwardian example of such a denial, see Maclure, Paul's Cross Sermons, 193.

108 STC, 10504, Erasmus, Godly, exposytion of the crede, K7-L4. In 1536 John Bale citein his own defence Erasmus's interpretation of this article; see Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, ed. Gairdner, J., London 1888, xi. 446.Google Scholar

109 RSTC, 16560, Common praiers… made by J. Caluyne, K8V-L3.

110 Knox, Doctrine of Faith, 58–60 and 60 n. 1. Knox was apparently unaware of the reference given in the next footnote.

111 RSTC, 14106, Afruteful and a very christen instructio for childrē, 1547, A4v; Tudor Royal Proclamations, i. 413–15.

112 See above, n. 1.

113 Foxe gives many examples of people getting into trouble for activities relating to the dissemination of very basic religious knowledge in the vernacular during the first half of Henry vm's reign, Acts and Monuments, iv. 134–5, 176, 207, 227, 228, 234–6, 238–6, 557–8, 582–4, 626. Few of these examples, however, apparently involved the teaching of children, see op. cit., 228, 235–6,238,557. It is, of course, known that certain people were enthusiastic about the religious instruction of the young. The Dowager Duchess of Suffolk appears to have been active in this respect throughout Lincolnshire, see D. Wilson, The People and the Book, London 1976, 120. The service for the ordering of deacons in the Edwardian Prayer Books specified that the instruction of youth in the catechism pertained to the office of a deacon, First and Second Prayer-Books, 301, 447.

114 Visitation Articles and Injunctions, ii. 308–9; Heath, P., The English Parish Clergy on the Eve of the Reformation, London and Toronto 1969, 74–5.Google Scholar

115 The returns are printed in Tudor Parish Documents of the Diocese of york, ed. PurvisCambridge, J. S. 1948, 109–25.Google Scholar

116 Harrison, S. M., The Pilgrimage of Grace in the Lake Countries, 1536–7 (Roy. Hist. Soc., London 1981), 72.Google Scholar

117 Fletcher, A., Tudor Rebellions, London 1976, 143.Google Scholar

118 Op. cit., 136; see also 60.

119 Rowse, A. L., Tudor Cornwall, London 1969, 151.Google Scholar

120 Letters and Papers…Henry VIII, xi. 446.

121 Narratives of the Days of the Reformation, ed.Nichols, J. G. (CamdenSoc, LXXVII, 1859), 348–51Google Scholar; the story of the persecution of an eleven-year-old boy who read Protestant books is related on pp. 60–8.

122 Price, F. D., ‘Gloucester diocese under Bishop Hooper 1551–3’, Trans. Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, lx (1938), 145.Google Scholar